Research Initiation Grant: Improving Attitudes towards Engineering Via Aesthetics

这项工程教育研究启动基金旨在探索如何通过让文科学生加入工程团队来教授工程流体力学。这项研究探索了学生对流体力学的认知发展，通过对学习结果和保持能力的影响，将所学知识与更传统的数学方法进行对比。将进行混合方法研究和知觉训练研究，以探索专业知识的发展。这一项目的更广泛的意义和重要性是通过这种替代教学法的潜力来解决目前留在工程学的学生的动机和留住问题，这些学生的留用率低于同行。将视觉艺术和工程背景的学生结合起来探索流体问题可能会导致对向更广泛的受众交流工程的洞察力。该项目与NSF的战略目标重叠，即通过培养一支具有新能力和专业知识的工程队伍来改造边境。此外，NSF为社会创新的目标是通过建设国家公民通过工程应对社会挑战的能力来实现的。

This engineering education research initiation grant seeks to explore how engineering fluid dynamics can be taught by engaging students from the arts on engineering teams. The study explore development of students' perception of fluid mechanics, contrasting what is learned with more traditional, mathematical approaches via the impact on learning outcomes and retention. A mixed-methods study and perceptual training study will be conducted to explore expertise development. The broader significance and importance of this project arises through the potential for such alternative pedagogies to address both motivation and retention of students who are currently retained in engineering at a lower rate than peers. Combining students from visual arts and engineering backgrounds to explore fluid problems may lead to insights on communicating engineering to a broader audience. This project overlaps with NSF's strategic goals of transforming the frontiers through preparation of an engineering workforce with new capabilities and expertise. Additionally NSF's goal of innovating for society is enabled by building the capacity of the nation's citizenry for addressing societal challenges through engineering.